Playground-marker



M H. SEITZ.

PLAYGROUND MARKER.

APPLICATION FILED'AUG.I2, 92o.

Patented June 7,"1921.

. V MILTON n. snrrz, on AKRON, onro.

PLAYGROUND-MARKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 12, 1920. Serial No. 402,992.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON H. Snrrz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Playground-Markers; and I do hereby'declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the 1nvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. a

This invention relates to a device for d stributing dry, slaked lime, and the like, to form markings for tennis courts, football fields, playgrounds, and the like. The device can also be used for sanding street car rails, or for distributing dry powdered fertilizer either on level areas or in plowed furrows.

An object of the invention is to obtain a continuous flow of dry powdered materlal, such as slaked lime, in a substantially steady stream and of a constant width. To attain this object, the device comprises a hopper in which a considerable quantity of slaked lime can be transported and a spout leading from that hopper into proximity to the surface on which the lime is to be deposited, with means reciprocating in the spout, and also preferably in the hopper, for agitating the lime to insure its steady flow from the hopper.

In the preferred embodiment, the agitator is connected through a link to a wheel on which the device is trundled and extends into the hopper far enough to agitate the lime therein and to break up any lumps there present.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, and Fig. 2, is a plan view of the same.

In the embodiment illustrated, the device comprises a supporting wheel 5 pivoted to the lower end of a supporting member or beam 6, which carries at its upper end a handle 7 fastened to the a lag screw 8, or the like. Wheel 5 is pivotally connected to the supporting member or beam 6 by bolt 9 provided with nuts 1() a washer 11, and a distance member 12. This member 12 may be loose on the bolt but preferably is integral therewith. On the other side of the wheel 5 is a metal wearing beam by means of plate 16' fastened to the wheel and suitable washers 17 and a nut '18, all serving to securely but pivotally mount wheel 5 on beam .6. Wheel 5 carries a wrist pin 19 to which i pivoted a connecting rod 20.

Mounted on the supporting member or beam 6 is a capacious hopper having a flaring bottom 29 which is connected at 28 with a rectangular spout 26, the lower end 27 of which is relatively close to the ground over which the device is trundled. Mounted to slide longitudinally in spout 26 is a grid 25 pivotally connectedto rod 20, so that when wheel 5 rotates and rod 20 reciprocates, the grid 25 will likewise reciprocate in the spout or chute.

The hopper is securely fastened to beam 6 by means of broad angular plates 30, one on either side of the beam, and each having a flange 31 held securely against the beam as by means of bolts 32. The hopper may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to these angular plates 30.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the grid 25 which is of perforate construction is of a length to extend practically the full length of the chute and into the hopper when in its uppermost position. With this arrangement, there is in addition to a steady uniform feed a stirring of the contents of the hopper at each reciprocation of the grid. Thus the grid acts not only as a feeder, for insuring a uniform flow through the chute but acts also as a stirrer or agitator for the contents of the hopper.

To mark the boundaries of a tennis court, dry slaked lime in powdered condition is introduced into the hopper and the device is then trundled forward along the line to be marked. Rotation of wheel 5 actuates con necting rod 20 and slides the grid or agitator 25 up and down in the chute, thus insuring a relatively steady and continuous feed of the dry powder down the chute to the ground. The upper end of the agitator 25 serves to stir up the lime in the hopper and to break up any lumps and to insure continuous flow of the powder into the upper end of the chute. But the agitating grid 25 has the further function of preventing a too rapid flow of powder down the chute, with resultant flooding of the line to be marked.

Similarly, dry sand can be distributed along car rails or dry powdered fertilizer can be "stributed evenly and in regulated Patented June *7, 1921.

amount on a flat surface, such as a grass tenms court or in furrows prepared for plantlng.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above and.

illustrated in the drawings, no limitation to the precise structure thus disclosed is contemplated, except in so far as is imposed by the language of the appended claims, since the inventionv is susceptible of modification within the scope of said claims.

described a supbottom, a rectangular discharge chute leading from said hopper into proximity to said wheel, a wire grid in said chute and extending into said hopper, and means driven by said wheel for reciprocating said grid longitudinally of said chute to control the flow of a dry powder from said hopper through said chute, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character specified, a wheel supported hopper having a discharge chute of uniform cross-section throughout its length, a grid arranged within the chute, and a connection between the supporting Wheel and the grid for reciprocating said grid. 1

In testimony whereof I aflix m si 'nature. 

